YUVIKA to inspire students to pursue careers in science & tech

Thiruvananthapuram: YUVIKA 2022 (Yuva Vigyani Karyakram) being held at VSSC by ISRO for the talented and bright students studying in class IX from various parts of the country envisages to instill a thirst for pursuing careers in science and technology and to give them a glimpse of one of the best science and technology endeavours of independent India – the Indian Space Programme.
ISRO YUVIKA 2022 is being conducted at five centres, - VSSC, URSC, NRSC, SAC and NESAC with a batch size of approximately 30 students each. The YUVIKA programme being held at VSSC has 32 students from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep. The programme will conclude on Sunday.
The programme was inaugurated by S Somanath secretary, DOS/ chairman, ISRO, via online on May 16. The programme is completely residential with the students being mentored on a 24 x 7 basis for 14 days by scientists/engineers of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
YUVIKA 2022 at VSSC includes lectures on different topics of science, engineering with emphasis on space technology delivered by eminent senior scientists of VSSC, IISU and IIST. The students also got the opportunity to be part of projects as part of team activities under the close supervision and guidance of VSSC experts. They also visited major facilities in VSSC and other establishments in the city.
The highlight of the programme was the lively interactive sessions. The first one was with G Madhavan Nair, former chairman, ISRO. In a two-hour session with the students, Dr G Madhavan Nair reminisced about the history of the Indian Space programme and how the vision of Dr Sarabhai was translated into reality by a bunch of individuals including Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The second interactive session was with V P Joy, chief secretary, Kerala. He exhorted students to widen their knowledge, keeping in mind the extent of ignorance to be surmounted. The students will also be visiting SDSC, SHAR and witnessing a sounding rocket launch as part of the programme.